Dear FriendsThe ongoing economic crisis has enabled mainstream
journalism to much less guarded about the way the financial
system works, and the ordinary person is less surprised
when you tell them how money is created by privated enterprises
called banks, and how it came to pass that the taxpayer
had to bail them out in order to save the economy. News
from Europe about the inevitable demise of the Euro, which
failed to recognise local variations on the economies
of its member countries, and encouraged profligacy amongst
the rich, has now resulted in real hardship and street
rioting in Greece.

Occupy gave voice to the 99%, and although
less prominent in the media, continues its work, as does
the Global Table, which connects with a whole range of
campaigns and initiatives worldwide. Of the campaigns
for mainstream reform, Positive Money stands out as coherently
addressing the key issues and appealing to the younger
generation whose responsiblity it will be to carry reforms
forward.

In the world of Community & Complementary
Currencies, the nuanced differences between the many different
approaches continue to baffle the uninitiated. The hallmark
of such currencies is that they are created by "mutual
credit" so can exist in parallel to the mainstream
economy. "Local Currencies" in the shape of
nicely designed printed notes, have been hailed by the
media as a great new initative, despite the fact that
many LETS groups were using vouchers all along, but with
these new ones you have to buy them with national currency
- duh!

Many of the enthusiastic newbies of
these and other new initiatives ask us to advertise them
or they even approach our member groups direct, wanting
them to join their project - in response to this, we will
add those which appear to be genuine and viable to our
links page, and mark them "new" once this news
update has been put togethey People Who Share appears
to be making a genuine attempt to link out to many of
these initiatives.

Yes, we have neglected outreach, and
so to those, who, in the absence of an updated news item
wondered if we had left the planet, the answer is, no,
we are still here working away in the grassroots.

Meanwhile, we continue to prioritise
supporting groups who affiliate to LETSlink and follow
the community based model of Local Exchange Trading, which
remains the most sophisticated concept, and one which
may be adapted to any situation, organisation or community.
But as we have been overwhelmed with new requests for
support, and are now working on changing the way we respond,
to provide the support needed in a more effective way.
Watch this space for details as we develop our own new
initiatives.

Details of forthcoming events are HERE
printer-friendly version HERE.To keep us posted with new developments or
for press queries, please call our central office on 020
7607 7852 or preferably write to: admin@LETSlinkuk.net